The CBD Strategic Goals, Aichi Targets, and how birds and BirdLife can contribute

B. Reduce pressures and
promote sustainable use

A. Address
underlying causes

CBD
strategic
goal

Aichi Target*
1

By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably

2

By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and
planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems

3

By 2020, at the latest, incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity are eliminated, phased out or reformed in order to minimise or
avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and applied, consistent
and in harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations, taking into account national socio-economic conditions

4

By 2020, at the latest, Governments, business and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have implemented plans for
sustainable production and consumption and have kept the impacts of use of natural resources well within safe ecological limits

5

By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation
and fragmentation is significantly reduced

6

By 2020 all fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are managed and harvested sustainably, legally and applying ecosystem based
approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans and measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have no significant
adverse impacts on threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species and ecosystems are within
safe ecological limits

7

By 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity

8

By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity

9

By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritised, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in
place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment

E. Enhance implementation
through planning,
knowledge management
and capacity building

D. Enhance
benefits from
biodiversity
and ecosystems

C. Safeguard
ecosystems,
species
and genes

10 By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean
acidification are minimised, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning
11 By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular
importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and
well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes
and seascapes
12 By 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline,
has been improved and sustained
14 By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being,
are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable
15 By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and restoration,
including restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to
combating desertification
17 By 2015 each Party has developed, adopted as a policy instrument, and has commenced implementing an effective, participatory and
updated national biodiversity strategy and action plan
18 By 2020, the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity, and their customary use of biological resources, are respected, subject to national legislation and relevant
international obligations, and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention with the full and effective participation of
indigenous and local communities, at all relevant levels
19 By 2020, knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status and trends, and the
consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared and transferred, and applied
20 By 2020, at the latest, the mobilisation of financial resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2020 from all
sources, and in accordance with the consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource Mobilisation, should increase substantially
from the current levels. This target will be subject to changes contingent to resource needs assessments to be developed and reported by Parties

* Bird information is less directly useful for reporting progress against Aichi Targets 13 (on genetic diversity of cultivated plants and domesticated animals) and 16 (on Access and Benefit-sharing),
so these are omitted here

CBD recommended indicators**
Bold = indicator available using bird data from national BirdLife partners or BirdLife globally; Not bold = indicator can be informed by bird data

How to set,
meet & track
the targets

■ Trends in public engagement with biodiversity ■

Trends in awareness and attitudes to biodiversity ■ Trends in communication
programmes and actions promoting social corporate responsibility

... see page 4

■ Trends in number of countries incorporating…biodiversity and ecosystem service values into national accounting systems ■ Trends in
number of countries that have assessed values of biodiversity ■ Trends in integration of biodiversity and ecosystem service values into
sectoral and development policies

... see page 5

■ Trends in the number and value of incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity, removed, reformed or phased out ■ Trend in
identification, assessment and establishment and strengthening of incentives that reward positive contribution to biodiversity and
ecosystem services or penalise adverse impacts

... see page 6

■ Trends in…extinction risk of…utilised species, including species in trade ■ Trends in extent to which biodiversity and ecosystem
service values are incorporated into organisational accounting and reporting

... see page 7

■ Extinction risk trends of habitat-dependent species in each major habitat type ■
species in each major habitat type ■ Trends in extent of selected habitats

... see page 8

Population trends of habitat-dependent

■ Trends in extinction risk of bycatch aquatic species ■ Trends in population of bycatch aquatic species ■ Trends in proportion
of depleted bycatch species with recovery plans

■

Trends in population of agriculture dependent species in production systems

■ Impact of pollution on extinction risk trends ■

Trend in levels of contaminants in wildlife

... see page 9

... see page 10
... see page 11

■ Trends in the impact of invasive alien species on extinction risk trends ■ Trends in policy responses, legislation and management
plans to control and prevent spread of invasive alien species

... see page 12

■ Trends in climate change impacts on extinction risk ■ Trends in climatic impacts on population trends ■ Trends in climatic
impacts on community composition

... see page 13

■ Trends in representative coverage of protected areas including sites of particular importance for biodiversity ■ Trends in
protected area condition and management effectiveness ■ Trends in the delivery of ecosystem services and equitable benefits
from protected areas ■ Trends in the connectivity of protected areas and other area based approaches integrated into landscapes
and seascapes

... see page 14

■ Trends in extinction risk of species ■

... see page 16

Trends in abundance of selected species ■ Trends in distribution of selected species

■ Extinction risk trends of species that provide ecosystem services ■

Trends in the delivery of multiple ecosystem services

... see page 18

■ Population trends of forest-dependent species in forests under restoration ■ Status and trends in extent and condition of

habitats that provide carbon storage

... see page 19

■ Trends in implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, including their comprehensiveness

... see page 20

■ Trends in the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities in the national implementation of the

■ Aggregated financial flows in the amount of biodiversity-related funding, per annum, for achieving the Convention’s three

mobilised objectives by non-governmental organisations
**adapted from UNEP/CBD/COP11/2, September 2012

... see page 23

How birds and
BirdLife can
help set, meet
and track
the Aichi
Biodiversity
Targets

The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020
In October 2010, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity—comprising nearly all the
world’s Governments—adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020.
The Strategic Plan provides a comprehensive global framework for achieving the vision of ‘Living in
Harmony with Nature’, including the 20 headline Aichi Targets for 2015 or 2020.
An essential next step is to translate the Strategic Plan to the national level—through new or
revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). CBD Parties have been invited
to set their own targets within this flexible framework, taking into account national needs and
priorities, while also bearing in mind national contributions to the achievement of the global
targets.

How birds can help
For many countries, developing NBSAPs to address the Aichi Targets may not be an easy task.
The broad range of actions required must be integrated across economic sectors and coordinated
across governments, business and civil society. The information needed for effective planning may
often be patchy and incomplete.
In this booklet, we outline and provide examples for 18 of the Aichi Targets* of how birds can help
to set targets at the national level, focus actions to meet these targets, and provide data to monitor
success. All the examples mentioned, and many more, can be found as detailed case studies in
State of the World’s Birds at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb
Birds are better known than any other comparable group of organisms. There is unparalleled
information on which species are the closest to extinction, the threats they face, actions needed,
and critical sites that need safeguarding. These data can help to focus and target actions to tackle
biodiversity loss.
Birds create a window into the wider
environment. As they are sensitive to
environmental change, popular to watch, and
relatively easy to monitor, indicators based on
bird data are very useful for tracking progress in
addressing the biodiversity crisis.
Finally, birds are a wonderful focus for engaging
and enthusing people to care for nature—and to
understand and value its role in underpinning all
our lives.

2

Image: Birds have huge popular appeal, and a global
network of birdwatchers and ornithologists provide a
vast body of information about them.
LEFT : (SPRING A LIVE) RIGHT : (E DITH K OSHKIN )

*Bird information is less directly useful for reporting progress against
Aichi Targets 13 (on genetic diversity of cultivated plants and
domesticated animals) and 16 (on Access and Benefit-sharing), so
these are omitted here

How BirdLife can help
BirdLife is a Partnership of national, membership-based environmental organisations in
over 115 countries and territories around the world. BirdLife works for a world rich in
biodiversity, with people and nature living equitably, sustainably and in harmony.
Through a focus on birds, BirdLife acts for nature and for people, sharing perspectives
and solutions that are founded on local experience but connect across borders and
barriers. The BirdLife Strategy 2013â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2020, built around the pillars of species, sites and
habitats, sustainability and people, is directly linked to and fully supportive of the
Strategic Plan for Biodiversity.
Putting our Strategy into effect, BirdLife Partners work closely with national Governments,
supporting efforts to improve conservation policy and action. BirdLife Partners are
ideally placed to involve and engage local communities and the wider public,
communicating the importance of nature conservation and promoting awareness.
BirdLife activities and projects provide numerous practical examples of how particular
Aichi Targets can be achieved. As civil society organisations, BirdLife Partners provide a
key component of the concerted action needed to implement NBSAPs successfully.
Globally, BirdLife is the CBDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Thematic Focal Point for birds for the
Clearing House Mechanism (for more information, see p.24). BirdLife Partners and the
BirdLife Secretariat hold detailed information on birds and make this widely accessible
to help national governments, businesses and others to implement and monitor the
CBD and its programmes of work.

BirdLife publications provide guidance on how information from birds can be used to set targets, prioritise actions and monitor progress

3

Addressing underlying causes

Improving
awareness of
biodiversity
Birds provide a wonderful
window on nature. Being
colourful, spectacular and with
beautiful songs, it is no surprise
that millions of people around
the world watch or feed birds.
Tracking the numbers of
people engaging in activities
that celebrate birds or count
them or conserve them can
be used to monitor awareness
of biodiversity.

Using birds to track progress
Monitoring the numbers of people participating in bird environmental activities provides simple
measures of progress in raising awareness about biodiversity. Relevant metrics are diverse,
including the numbers of people who watch or feed birds, are members of bird organisations, visit
wildlife reserves and environmental events, or contribute to bird monitoring programmes and
conservation activities.

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife Australia is bringing
together residents and land
managers to protect beachnesting birds
The Hong Kong Birdwatching
Society is helping local groups
raise conservation awareness
in schools

4

Image: Birds provide an easy way for people to engage
with nature and learn about environmental issues.
(VIVIAN F U)

BirdLife Partners are helping
to establish National Liaison
Frameworks as forums for
policymaking
For these and other case studies, see State of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Addressing underlying causes

Mainstreaming
biodiversity
into national
policies and
plans

Using birds to track progress
The UK government uses the population trends of common countryside birds to monitor the
state of the environment and as a measure of sustainable development. It has adopted these
‘Sustainable Development Indicators’, alongside others monitoring, for example, levels of poverty
and healthy lifespans.

The UK Sustainable Development
Indicator for wild bird
population trends

Biodiversity concerns need to
be incorporated into land-use
planning at all levels and
integrated into production
sectors, sustainable
development and poverty
reduction plans. Data from
birds can be used to ensure this
is done effectively, and to
monitor the degree to which
development is sustainable.

Source: Data on 121 species from
RSPB/BTO/JNCC/DEFRA.

Aichi Target 2
Biodiversity is integrated
into national and local planning
processes, and incorporated into
national reporting systems

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife Partners are working
to mainstream soaring bird
conservation along the Rift
Valley/Red Sea flyway
Important Bird Areas are
being used to integrate
biodiversity and development
planning in Mongolia

Image: Carefully planning industrial and energy
developments to minimise further impacts on the
wetland habitats of the Critically Endangered Siberian
Crane will be essential to ensure its survival.
(JAAP S CHELVIS/ WWW. RAREBIRDSYEARBOOK . COM)

BirdLife’s Rwandan Partner
(ACNR) is helping a
community to manage
wetland resources sustainably

5
For these and other case studies, see State of the world’s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Addressing underlying causes

Reforming
incentives
Taxpayers are subsidising
deforestation, overfishing,
environmentally damaging
agricultural practices and our
dependence on fossil fuels at a
scale of approximately
US$1trillion per year. Incentives
that encourage unsustainable
practices must end, with
subsidies redirected towards
activities that ensure
sustainable natural resource
use (e.g. sustainable forestry
and agriculture, ecosystem
restoration, sustainable energy
and waste management).
Bird data can help track
progress in achieving this.
Aichi Target 3
Incentives harmful to biodiversity
are eliminated or reformed, and
positive incentives for the
conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity are developed

Using birds to track progress
Bird populations provide a useful way of tracking the impacts of positive incentives for the
conservation of biodiversity. For example, population trends of farmland specialist birds can help to
measure the impacts of agri-environment schemes. Trends in Skylark populations at Hope Farm in
the UK have improved following the introduction of targeted agri-environment options by the
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, whereas trends for Skylarks across the UK overall have
continued to decline.

Population trends of Skylarks at Hope
Farm, UK, following the introduction of
targeted agri-environment options,
compared with national Skylark
population trends
Source: RSPB for Hope Farm data; BTO/RSPB/JNCC for
UK data.

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife Partners are
supporting reform of the
EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Common Agricultural
Policy
Asity Madagascar is using
direct payments to local
communities as an incentive
for IBA conservation

6

Image: Agri-environment schemes in the UK encourage
bare patches to be left in cereal crops in order to benefit
the declining Skylark. (A NDY H AY/RSPB - IMAGES . COM)

BirdLife Partners are
supporting efforts to remove
European Union subsidies
that support overfishing
For these and other case studies, see State of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Addressing underlying causes

Implementing
plans for
sustainability
Development needs to happen
in harmony with nature, and
respect environmental
limits. We must recognise the
crucial underpinning provided
by biodiversity and ecosystem
services, and thus the
fundamental importance of
nature conservation to
economic prosperity and
poverty eradication. BirdLife
has developed a number
of tools that provide
decision-makers from the
public and private sectors
with the biodiversity
information needed to make
sustainable choices.
Aichi Target 4
Governments, business and
stakeholders at all levels take steps
to implement plans for sustainable
production and consumption

Using birds to track progress
The Red List Index for bird species that are utilised by people (as pets, or for food, medicine, or other
purposes) shows trends in their overall extinction risk. This can be used to indicate the degree to
which consumption is sustainable and the impacts of natural resource use are within safe ecological
limits. The overall declines in the index show that the human use of birds remains unsustainable:
more species are being driven towards extinction through over-exploitation than are being
recovered through measures to control or manage use sustainably. Data on which species are
threatened by which types of use and scales of trade can help to focus efforts to manage resourceuse sustainably.

Trends in extinction risk of utilised
bird species: The Red List Index
for bird species used by people
Source: Analysis of data held in BirdLife’s
World Bird Database (2012).

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
A strategic partnership
between CEMEX and BirdLife
is helping to reduce impacts
on biodiversity
The sustainable use of
wetland resources can benefit
both wildlife and local
communities

Image: BirdLife Partners around the world work
alongside local communities to promote the
sustainable use of wetland resources.
(B. P ANDEYA)

BirdLife has developed a
decision-support tool (‘IBAT’)
for business, government
and conservation

7
For these and other case studies, see State of the world’s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Reducing pressures and promoting sustainable use

Reducing
habitat loss and
degradation
Destruction, degradation and
fragmentation of natural
habitats is one of the major
drivers of biodiversity loss.
Broad-scale land-use policies
and practices need to
incorporate biodiversity
concerns in order to ‘keep
common species common’
and avoid threatening other
species. Birds can help
to identify the specific
measures needed and to
monitor their impact.

Using birds to track progress
Wild Bird Indices show that woodland bird species in Europe have undergone a shallow decline
since 1980, grassland and arid-land species in North America have declined by over a quarter in the
last four decades, and Arctic species have showed shallow declines following increases in the 1970s.
By integrating the impacts of multiple pressures on the environment, birds are useful indicators of
the overall condition of different habitats.

Aichi Target 5
Loss, degradation and
fragmentation of forest and
other habitats is at least halved
and, where feasible, brought
close to zero

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife’s Forests of Hope
programme will protect five
million hectares of tropical
forest
BirdLife Partners are
tackling the East Asian
coastal wetlands ecological
crisis

8

Image: Nearly two-thirds of bird species are found in
forests, chiefly in the tropics, and many can live
nowhere else. Yet more than ten million hectares of
tropical forest are destroyed each year.
(S ZEFEI /D REAMSTIME. COM )

BirdLife’s Polish Partner
(OTOP) campaigned to save
the Rospuda valley from road
development
For these and other case studies, see State of the world’s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Reducing pressures and promoting sustainable use

Fishing
sustainably
The world’s fish stocks are
increasingly over-harvested,
with some now reduced
beyond recovery. Such
unsustainable exploitation
also harms other biodiversity.
Many seabirds—albatrosses
in particular—are threatened
with extinction owing to
bycatch in fisheries, yet
simple and cost-effective
measures can substantially
reduce this problem.

Using birds to track progress
The sustainability of fisheries in terms of their impacts on birds can be monitored through tracking
seabird population trends, and through the Red List Index for seabirds. The latter illustrates trends
in the extinction risk of the world’s seabirds. It shows significant declines in the status of both
coastal and pelagic species over the last 20 years, but the latter are on average much more highly
threatened, in large part owing to fisheries impacts.

Trends in extinction risk of bycatch aquatic
species: The Red List Index for seabirds
Source: Analysis of data held in BirdLife’s World Bird Database
(2012)

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife is working with
Regional Fisheries
Management Organisations
to reduce albatross declines
BirdLife’s Albatross Task
Force is bridging the gap
between conservationists and
fishermen
Image: Simple modifications to fishing techniques
can help to prevent the unnecessary bycatch of
seabirds such as the Black-browed Albatross, which
is threatened by the impacts of commercial
longline fisheries in particular.
(P ETER EXLEY , RSPB)

Marine IBAs are being used
to describe Ecologically or
Biologically Significant Areas
in the open oceans

9
For these and other case studies, see State of the world’s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Reducing pressures and promoting sustainable use

Making
farming and
forestry
sustainable
Farming and forestry provide
the food we depend upon and
many of the materials we
need, but unsustainable
practices threaten much
biodiversity in forests and the
wider countryside. Birds are
useful indicators for
identifying how to make
farming and forestry
practices sustainable, and
for monitoring their impact
on wildlife.

Using birds to track progress
Birds are useful indicators of the state of the environment as they are sensitive to environmental
change, their ecology is largely well-known and they are relatively easy to survey and count. Wild
Bird Indices showing the average population trends of species characteristic of farmland are used in
a number of countries to monitor the condition of the countryside.

Trends in population of agriculture-dependent species: (a) the Wild Bird Index for farmland birds in the European
Union is aggregated from national examples, such as (b) the Wild Bird Index for Sweden
Source: (a) Data on 37 species from EBCC/RSPB/BirdLife International/Statistics Netherlands. (b) Data for 14 species from LindstrĂśm et al. (2012)
Monitoring population changes of birds in Sweden. Annual report for 2011. Lund University, Sweden.

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
Aves Uruguay is working with
local ranchers to establish
good management practices
for grasslands
Pronatura is supporting local
communities in Mexico to
establish sustainable forestry
practices

Bird Conservation Nepal
works with Community Forest
Users Groups for sustainable
forest management
For these and other case studies, see State of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Reducing pressures and promoting sustainable use

Reducing
pollution
Pollution from agriculture,
industry, sewage, oil
exploitation, mining and other
sources poses a substantial
threat to biodiversity. It also
often has significant economic
costs through impacting
ecosystem services, such as
provision of clean drinking
water. Data on birds can help
to identify where pollution
impacts occur and to track
progress in tackling them.

Using birds to track progress
The Red List Index shows trends in the overall extinction risk of the world’s birds, but it can also be
split up to show the contribution of different threats to the overall trend. This shows that in recent
years, the number of species deteriorating in status owing to the negative impacts of pollution
outweighs the number of species improving in status owing to effective control of pollution. The net
impact has therefore been negative, but the contribution of pollution to overall declines has been
smaller than for other threatening processes. Data on threats to birds can help to prioritise where to
focus actions tackling pollution.

Trends in the impact of pollution
on extinction risk trends: the Red
List Index for the impacts of
different drivers of biodiversity
loss on the world’s birds
Source: McGeoch et al. (2010) Divers.
Distrib . 16: 95–108.

Aichi Target 8
Pollution is brought to levels not
detrimental to biodiversity

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
Bird Conservation Nepal is
establishing safe ‘diclofenac
free’ feeding sites for
vultures
Banning lead shot and captive
breeding played a crucial part
in bringing the Californian
Condor back from the brink

Image: Despite being saved from extinction,
California Condor is still threatened by the build-up
of toxic lead shot in the environment.
(US FISH & WILDLIFE S ERVICE )

‘Nature-friendly’ fish-farming
techniques in Hungary
reduce both costs and
pollution

11
For these and other case studies, see State of the world’s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Reducing pressures and promoting sustainable use

Tackling
invasive aliens
When invasive alien species
are deliberately or accidentally
introduced by humans, they
can be highly damaging to
native biodiversity and have
substantial economic costs.
However, the technology and
tools now exist to control or
eradicate them, often with
impressive results. Data from
birds can help to set priorities
for such actions, and monitor
their impacts.

Using birds to track progress
The Red List Index shows the net impact of different drivers on the overall extinction risk of the
worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birds. It shows that over the last two decades, invasive alien species have had a net negative
impact, despite actions tackling them benefiting many native bird species. This means there is still
an urgent need to eradicate, control and prevent the spread of invasive species. Data on where
invasive species impact native birds can help to prioritise where to target such actions.

Trends in the impact of invasive
alien species on extinction risk
trends: the Red List Index for the
impacts of different drivers of
biodiversity loss on the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birds
Source: McGeoch et al. (2010) Divers. Distrib.
16: 95-108.

Aichi Target 9
Invasive alien species are
prioritised and controlled or
eradicated, and introduction
pathways are controlled

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife Partners are helping
to restore island ecosystems
by eradicating invasive alien
species
Rat eradication and captive
breeding have helped save
the Campbell Islands Teal
from extinction

12

Image: Rodents such as House Mouse (shown here)
and Black Rat have devastated many island bird
populations, but their eradication can lead to
spectacular recoveries of native species.
(ROSS W ANLESS)

Turning invasive plants into
biofuels and fertiliser
benefits both biodiversity
and local livelihoods
For these and other case studies, see State of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Reducing pressures and promoting sustainable use

Minimising
climate change
impacts
Helping biodiversity to cope
with climate change will
require robust measures to
reduce greenhouse gas
emissions coupled with efforts
to maximise the resilience and
adaptation of ecosystems.
The latter will require effective
management of protected
area networks. Information
from projected and
documented effects on birds
can help to frame adaptive
management of sites and
monitor impacts on species.
Helping ecosystems adapt will
also benefit human
adaptation efforts.
Aichi Target 10
Pressures on vulnerable
ecosystems impacted by climate
change are minimised

Using birds to track progress
Combining systematic bird population monitoring with independent projections of climate change
effects on bird distributions allows calculation of indicators to illustrate the impact of climate
change on biodiversity. In Europe since about 1990, species expected to gain range in response to
climatic change have shown positive population trends, and those expected to lose range have
shown negative trends. The Climatic Impact Indicator combines these results and demonstrates an
increasing impact of climate change on European birds in the last two decades.

Trends in climatic impacts on population trends:
the Climatic Impact Index for European birds,
showing the degree to which population trends of
122 species have responded in the direction
expected from climate change.
Source: Data for 122 species from Gregory et al. (2009) Public
Libr. Sci. ONE 4: e4678.
Colours represent different
scenarios, with associated
management recommendations:

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife Partners are safeguarding IBAs in order to
mitigate climate change
impacts on birds
BirdLife Partners are working
with local communities to
protect and restore mangrove
ecosystems

Image: Protecting and restoring mangroves not only
benefits wildlife, but also helps defend coastal
communities against the impacts of climate change.
(JIM KUSHLAN)

Managed realignment for
coastal wetlands in the UK
is helping people and nature
adapt

13
For these and other case studies, see State of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Safeguarding ecosystems, species and genes

Protecting and
managing
critical sites
Important Bird Areas (IBA)
represent a global network of
11,000 critical sites for
biodiversity conservation,
identified nationally using
globally standardised criteria.
Effectively protecting and
managing such sites would
make a major contribution to
combating biodiversity loss,
with benefits to birds, other
biodiversity and local
communities. IBA monitoring
provides a simple yet powerful
way of tracking progress in
biodiversity conservation on
the ground.
Aichi Target 11
At least 17% of land and 10% of
sea, especially important
biodiversity areas, are conserved
through effectively managed
protected areas

Image left: Data on the distribution of threatened
and other priority bird species have been used to
identify Important Bird Areas in nearly all countries,
from montane forests (pictured here in Timor-Leste)
to coastal wetlands.
(C OLIN T RAINOR)

14

Image right: The establishment of Timor-Leste’s first
national park protected important populations of 26
bird species restricted to Timor and neighbouring
islands including Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher.
(P AUL P EARSON)

Setting the target
IBAs represent the largest systematically identified network of sites of particular importance for
biodiversity. Unprotected or partially protected IBAs are therefore among the most urgent priorities
for expansion of protected area networks. Recent identification of marine IBAs in the high seas helps
describe a global network of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas that represent targets for
marine protected area designation.

Map of the world’s Important Bird Areas
Source: Analysis of data held in
BirdLife’s World Bird
Database (2010).

Note that the process of IBA identification
is not yet complete in some areas.

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife Partners use IBAs to
inform an ecologically
representative network of
protected areas
BirdLife Partners are helping
Sierra Leone and Liberia
create a transboundary
reserve
BirdLife worked with the
Timor-Leste government to
create the country’s first
National Park
For these and other case studies, see State of the world’s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Safeguarding ecosystems, species and genes

Using birds to track progress
IBAs represent a baseline set of Key Biodiversity Areas for almost every
country in the world. Measuring the degree to which they are covered by
protected areas provides a useful metric to judge progress in reducing
biodiversity loss. However, on average across the world, only 39% of the
area of IBAs is protected, and only 26% of sites are completely protected.
Considerably greater efforts are therefore needed to target expansion of
protected areas at these critical sites for biodiversity.
Designated protected areas require adequate funding and effective
management, and again this can be monitored using data from birds.
IBAs across the world are monitored using BirdLifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standardised and
simple methods for scoring their condition (based on the critical species
and habitats within them), the pressures (threats) impacting the site, and
the conservation responses in place (such as action plans and
management activities). IBA monitoring carried out by local groups,
volunteers, government staff and BirdLife Partners generates data for
IBA-indices that provide powerful tools for quantifying conservation
efforts and measuring their impact.

(a) Trends in coverage of sites of particular importance for
biodiversity by protected areas: the Important Bird Area Protection
Index. (b) Trends in protected area condition and management
effectiveness: Important Bird Area Indices for Kenya comparing the
trends in the state of IBAs, pressures upon them, and responses in
place, for protected and unprotected IBAs
Source: (a) Butchart et al. (2012) PLoS ONE 7(3): e32529 updated with latest BirdLife
International data. (b) Data for 365 IBAs from Mwangi et al. (2010) Bird Conserv. Internat.
20: 215â&#x20AC;&#x201C;230.

a)

b)

15

Safeguarding ecosystems, species and genes

Preventing
extinctions
Over 1,200 bird species are
threatened with extinction,
with 190 Critically Endangered
species close to being lost
forever. However, there are
numerous inspiring success
stories to show that the tools
and knowledge now exist to
help them recover, providing
adequate resources and
political will are applied.
As birds are better known than
any comparable group of
organisms, it is practical to use
bird data to quantify our
success or failure in preventing
extinctions.

Setting the target
The extinction risk of birds is better documented than for any other class of organisms. BirdLife’s
assessments for all 10,000 bird species on the IUCN Red List help to identify priorities for action:
which species are the most urgent priorities, what actions are needed, and where interventions
would make the greatest difference. Such actions typically have benefits to biodiversity beyond
birds too.

Proportion of the world’s birds in different Red List categories
Source: Analysis of data held in BirdLife’s World Bird Database (2012)

Aichi Target 12
Extinction of threatened species is
prevented, and their conservation
status improved

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
Over ten years, action by
BirdLife Partners and others
prevented the extinction of
16 bird species

Image left: Rimatara Lorikeet was recently
reintroduced from the tiny island of Rimatara in French
Polynesia to Atiu in the southern Cook Islands, where
the species had been driven extinct two centuries ago
through over-exploitation for feathers.
(P HIL BENDER )
Image right: Birds are relatively easy to survey compared
to many other types of wildlife, so indicators based on
bird data are useful for tracking biodiversity trends.
(C AROLINE T HOMAS / RSPB - IMAGES. COM)
16

BirdLife’s Preventing
Extinction Programme
identifies Guardians and
Champions for threatened
birds
Habitat restoration has led
to the recovery of the
Azores Bullfinch
For these and other case studies, see State of the world’s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Safeguarding ecosystems, species and genes

Using birds to track
progress
The Red List Index (RLI) shows
trends in the status of the
world’s birds, based on the
movement of species through
categories of extinction risk on
the IUCN Red List. It illustrates
the net effect of conservation
successes (when species are
downlisted to lower categories
of extinction risk) and
biodiversity losses (when species
are uplisted to higher categories
owing to increasing threats and
declining populations). It shows
that the status of bird species
has declined steadily over the
last two decades in freshwater
and terrestrial ecosystems, but
marine species are most
threatened and declining fastest.

Safeguarding
ecosystem
services
Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are
critical sites for biodiversity
conservation but also deliver
ecosystem services such as
carbon sequestration and
storage, water supply, food,
timber, medicines, crop
pollination and pest control.
Furthermore, many
communities are dependent
on IBAs for their livelihoods.
Effectively conserving the
global IBA network would
undoubtedly safeguard
substantial provision of
ecosystem services and local
livelihoods.
Aichi Target 14
Ecosystems that provide essential
services and livelihoods are
safeguarded and/or restored, with
equitable access

Using birds to track progress
Birds themselves are important providers of ecosystem services, through their role as pollinators
(for which at least 50 crop and medicinal plant species reply on birds), pest control (e.g. rodenthunting birds of prey), seed dispersal (e.g. frugivores such as hornbills) and scavengers (e.g.
vultures). Tracking trends in the status of such species can help to monitor the provision of
ecosystem services. In addition, monitoring ecosystem service delivery at IBAs can help to
demonstrate the benefits of IBA conservation beyond species, and to monitor progress in
safeguarding ecosystem services.

(a) Trends in the extinction risk for species that provide ecosystem services: the Red List Index for pollinating birds.
(b) Trends in the delivery of multiple ecosystem services: proportion of Important Bird Areas in Nepal
delivering ecosystem services with increasing, decreasing or stable trends
Source: (a) Analysis of data held in BirdLifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Bird Database (2012). (b) Data from 27 sites from Bird Conservation Nepal and BirdLife
International (2012).

Nature Uganda is empowering
local communities to manage
natural resources better and
to restore ecosystem services
For these and other case studies, see State of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Enhancing benefits from biodiversity and ecosystems

Restoring
degraded forest
Large areas of tropical forest
have been degraded by
logging and resource
extraction, but remain
important for biodiversity
conservation. Restoring such
forests can increase their value
for birds and other biodiversity,
enhance resilience, and
increase their contribution to
climate change adaptation
and local livelihoods. Bird
populations can be used as
sensitive indicators to monitor
the degree of habitat
degradation and to track
progress in restoration.

Aichi Target 15
Ecosystem resilience and the
contribution of biodiversity to
carbon stocks is enhanced,
including through restoration of
15% of degraded ecosystems

Image top: Birds such as Ferruginous-backed Antbird
are sensitive to forest condition, so monitoring their
trends can help to track the success
of efforts to restore degraded forest.
(N ICK A THANAS)
Image bottom: Restoring forest sites identified for
their bird conservation value often enhances the
provision of ecosystem services as well as benefiting
other biodiversity, such as Sumatran Tiger.
(D AVE W ATTS/ RSPB - IMAGES. COM)

Using birds to track progress
Birds can be useful indicators of forest quality, with some groups of species being particularly
sensitive to forest structure and more practical to census than many other animal or plant groups.
The population trends of these forest-dependent bird species can be used to monitor the extent of
habitat degradation and the degree of recovery of forests being restored.

Change in abundance of different bird species groups
ten years after selective logging compared with similar
undisturbed primary forest in northern French Guiana
Source: Thiollay (1997) Biodiv. Conserv. 6: 1,155â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1,173.

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife Partners in Indonesia
and Sierra Leone are
developing innovative
approaches to save forests
BirdLife Partners are restoring
forests that will help buffer
communities against climate
change
Community management of
forest on Mount Oku,
Cameroon, has led to
significant habitat regeneration

19
For these and other case studies, see State of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Enhancing implementation

Implementing
national
strategies for
biodiversity

Using birds to track progress
An increasing proportion of countries are addressing the conservation of threatened birds and
Important Bird Areas, according to their national reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD). The proportion of countries for which moderate or strong emphasis was placed on these two
topics for the first and second reports increased from 58% to 79% respectively for threatened
species and 50% to 83% for IBA conservation.

National strategies and
associated action plans set
the basis for implementing
the CBD at the national level,
reflecting each country’s
priorities and mechanisms for
achieving the Convention’s
objectives. As conservation
priorities for birds are better
known than for other species
groups, they can help to
target national activities on
the most urgent issues,
species and places.
Aichi Target 17
All parties have implemented
effective, participatory and
updated national biodiversity
strategies and action plans

Trends in proportion of countries
addressing the conservation of
threatened birds and Important
Bird Areas as documented in their
CBD national reports
Source: National CBD reports for a sample of
24 countries analysed by BirdLife
International.

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife Partners work with
governments through
environmental agreements to
protect biodiversity
BirdLife’s detailed datasets
are helping governments to
focus and implement
National Biodiversity
Strategies and Action Plans

14
20

Image: National IBA inventories have helped many
countries to target their biodiversity conservation
efforts at some of the highest priority sites.
(B IRD L IFE INTERNATIONAL )

The Haribon Foundation is
helping the Philippines
Government to update and
implement their NBSAP

For these and other case studies, see State of the world’s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Enhancing implementation

Protecting
traditional
knowledge and
practices
Local knowledge and
participation enhance the
effectiveness, sustainability
and relevance of
conservation. BirdLife
International empowers local
communities by
strengthening local
institutions, developing skills,
protecting rights and creating
networks which connect local
people so that their voices are
heard by decision-makers.

Using birds to track progress
At thousands of IBAs across the world, BirdLife Partners work to support and empower Local
Conservation Groups. These community organisations reflect the diversity of local cultures and
traditions. They engage in a variety of activities, including monitoring, conservation action, poverty
reduction, resource management, campaigning and advocacy. Tracking the number and
engagement of such groups provides one measure of the degree to which traditional practices are
integrated into conservation.

Trends in the number of Local
Conservation Groups participating
in the conservation of Important
Bird Areas in Africa
Source: BirdLife International (2012)
Conserving biodiversity and delivering
ecosystem services at Important Bird Areas
in Nepal.

Aichi Target 18
Traditional knowledge and
practices relevant to conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity
are integrated in the
implementation of the Convention

Image: Since the late 1990s, BirdLife has been
building a network of grass-roots groups, known
as Local Conservation Groups (LGCs) to harness
local expertise and enthusiasm.
(D AVID T HOMAS , BIRD L IFE)

Empowering local people is
helping to protect the
Endangered Wattled
Curassow

21
For these and other case studies, see State of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Enhancing implementation

Sharing
biodiversity
knowledge
Birds are the best-known class
of organisms. BirdLife
International manages
unparalleled data on all the
world’s birds, the threats they
face, the conservation actions
they need and the global
network of Important Bird
Areas that needs safeguarding
for conservation. Using
innovative tools, BirdLife
makes these data widely
accessible to inform
decision-making and for
setting, tracking and
monitoring targets.

Using birds to track progress
Measuring the provision of, and access to, information on birds can provide useful metrics of
biodiversity knowledge-sharing. For example, national directories of Important Bird Areas have now
been published in 111 countries, while more than 1.1 million unique users per year access
biodiversity data on the BirdLife website. In addition, BirdLife’s State of the world’s birds website is
increasingly being used as an extensive databank of case studies for how birds can help guide and
monitor action to address biodiversity loss.

Trends in the provision of bird
information
Source: Analysis of data held in BirdLife’s World
Bird Database (2010); ISI Web of Knowledge.

Aichi Target 19
Knowledge, the science base and
technologies relating to the status,
trends and value of biodiversity are
improved and shared

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife has developed a
decision-support tool (IBAT)
for business, government and
conservation
BirdLife Partners have
developed a monitoring
framework for IBAs
worldwide

22

Image: BirdLife makes available its extensive
biodiversity information through innovative tools such
as the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool
(www.ibatforbusiness.org) and the BirdLife
datazone (www.birdlife.org/datazone).
(B IRD L IFE I NTERNATIONAL)

Synthesising and sharing
bird data can help assess the
effectiveness of conservation
management interventions
For these and other case studies, see State of the world’s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

Enhancing implementation

Increasing
conservation
finance
The success of the Strategic
Plan will require the full
implementation of the
Strategy for Resource
Mobilization, which includes
as a first step assessing
conservation costs and setting
financial targets.
Governments will have to
increase domestic biodiversity
funding, enhance
international financial flows,
and develop innovative
funding mechanisms.
Information on the costs of
bird conservation can help
in calculating the costs of
some targets, setting budgets
and mobilising funds for
effective action.
Aichi Target 20
Mobilisation of financial resources
should increase substantially from
current levels

Using birds to track progress
Non-governmental organisations make an important contribution to the funding of conservation
interventions and policy actions to help achieve the Convention on Biological Diversity’s objectives
and Strategic Plan on Biodiversity. Trends in the combined budget of the 118 national
environmental organisations that comprise the BirdLife International Partnership can be used as a
barometer of the contribution of grass-roots organisations to biodiversity finance. This shows
substantial growth in recent years, now exceeding half a billion US$ each year.

Aggregated financial flows in the
amount of biodiversity-related
funding mobilised by the BirdLife
Partnership, per annum, for
achieving the Convention’s
objectives
Source: Analysis of BirdLife International
data (2000–2010).

Achieving the
target: examples
of success
BirdLife has calculated the
cost of saving globally
threatened species and
safeguarding IBAs
BirdLife is mobilising
resources from Species
Champions for preventing
extinctions

Madagascar has developed
innovative mechanisms to
finance Protected Area
conservation

23
For these and other case studies, see State of the world’s birds online at www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb

BirdLife as a
CBD CHM
BirdLife International is the
CBD’s International Thematic
Focal Point for birds for the
Clearing House Mechanism
(CHM), an information service
for promoting technical
cooperation and knowledge
exchange. We manage a
wealth of data that can help
Parties to set priorities and
track success in meeting
biodiversity targets—including
developing and revising
NBSAPs (see opposite).

24
24

An overview of BirdLife’s online resources
Section

URL

CBD support

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/info/CBDsupport
A dedicated section of BirdLife’s website, that Parties to
the CBD can draw upon when setting priorities, tracking
success, developing NBSAPs, preventing extinctions, and
designing protected area networks.

Country profiles

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/country
Biodiversity statistics, graphs and maps for every country
of the world, including information on numbers of bird
species and their IUCN Red List status, numbers of terrestrial
and marine Important Bird Areas and their protection status,
and environmental treaties.

State of the World’s Birds http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb
An online tool providing access to over 300 Case Studies
analysing data from BirdLife and others to help inform
decisions, detailed spotlights on BirdLife’s key areas of
engagement, and a wide range of publications, including
national ‘State of the birds’ reports.
Species factsheets

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/marine
A dynamic and interactive map providing information on
all the world’s seabirds, breeding colonies, important
marine sites, their protection status and relationship
to EBSAs.

Making sense of indicators
Biodiversity indicators are easier to understand, communicate
and act upon when linked together in a set that connects
policies to outcomes. Four kinds of indicators are needed to
make a joined-up set, as shown opposite. Linking indicators
together makes it clear if, and how, policy responses are making
a difference, by monitoring their implementation, effects in
reducing pressures, consequences for the state of biodiversity,
and impacts on the benefits that people derive from nature.
Measures based on bird data can contribute to each of these.

➔

STATE of biodiversity
e.g. Wild Bird Indices, state of
Important Bird Areas

BirdLife International is a partnership of people for birds and
the environment. As a worldwide community, we are the leading
authority on the status of birds and their habitats. Over 10 million
people support the BirdLife Partnership of national nongovernmental conservation organisations and local networks.
Partners, operating in more than 100 territories, work together on
shared priorities, programmes, and policies, learning from each
other to achieve real conservation results. The BirdLife Partnership
promotes sustainable living as a means of conserving birds and all
other forms of biodiversity.
For more information, please contact:
BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road,
Cambridge CB3 0NA, UK.
Tel: +44 1223 277318 Fax: +44 1223 277200
Email: birdlife@birdlife.org Internet: www.birdlife.org
BirdLife International is a UK-registered charity, no. 1042125

BirdLife wishes to acknowledge and thank its Founder Patrons for their support of BirdLife’s
science and conservation programmes. The compilation and publication of this report were
generously supported by the Aage V. Jensen Charity Foundation.

BirdLife International is a partnership of 114 national conservation organisations and the world leader in bird conservation. BirdLifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
unique local to global approach enables it to deliver high impact and long term conservation for the benefit of nature and people.